Chicopee Fire Department announces upgrades to enhance emergency response services

Fire Chief Dan Stamborski discusses the upgrades that will enhance emergency medical response services for Chicopee residents at a press conference on April 14.
Reminder Publishing photo by Tyler Garnet

CHICOPEE — The Chicopee Fire Department hosted a press conference with the mayor’s office on April 14 to announce a major upgrade to its emergency medical response capabilities through a new Emergency First Response certification.

At the gathering, the city announced that all six engine companies, two aerial apparatus and two reserve engines are now licensed at the Basic Life Support level.

The enhancement allows fire apparatus to carry advanced medical equipment and administer critical treatments on scene, similar to BLS ambulances, further strengthening emergency response across the city.

“We want the general public of Chicopee to know that we’re a little safer today,” Mayor John Vieau stated. “When you call, someone will come, and they’re going to be prepared to help you any way they can. It’s something we’re all really proud of here.”

The upgrade was made possible through a collaboration between Chicopee Firefighters Local 1710 and the mayor, with equipment funding unanimously approved by the Chicopee City Council.

The fire apparatus now includes a CPAP for severe respiratory distress, albuterol treatments for asthma-related bronchospasms, epinephrine and Benadryl for severe allergic reactions. It will also include pain management with Ibuprofen and Acetaminophen, glucose monitoring and administration for diabetic emergencies, and manual suction during CPR.

Vieau expressed excitement for the new initiative and shared how safe he personally feels as a parent of someone with type one diabetes.

“Knowing now that they’re carrying sugar, which is simple glucose, can really make a difference for someone whose sugar is low, and having the opportunity to also test their blood sugar is just something really special,” Vieau explained.

Extensive training was conducted in partnership with Baystate Medical Center, the EMT Academy, and the department’s EMS coordinator, with licensing approved by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.

This initiative marks an important step in strengthening pre-hospital care, helping ensure Chicopee residents receive effective treatment and support during emergencies, even when hospital transport isn’t required.

“They can do everything an ambulance crew can do in our city with the expectation of transporting patients,” Fire Chief Dan Stamborksi said.

Stamborski explained that a firefighter relies heavily on a lot of different vendors and outsources paramedic services when they get too busy.

“[When] all of our ambulances are out on the streets, we have to rely on mutual aid and private ambulance services,” Stamborski said.

With the contracts now in place, the new licenses allow the Chicopee Fire Department to do diabetic treatments, breathing treatments and more.

Stamborski said that, in his management meetings, the group has talked about this initiative as a way to improve operations. Stamborski credited one of his lieutenants for bringing this to his attention and explaining how the department could change its licensing to implement the initiative.

“From every step, the mayor was right on board, the council immediately approved the funding, and now we’re at this pinnacle right now,” Stamborski stated.

The fire chief also highlighted how important this new initiative is, because the city receives a lot of medical response calls. Stamborski said his department responded to over 15,000 calls last year, two-thirds of those calls being medical responses. “I think this is going to be a great enhancement to our city and to what we provide to the citizens,” Stamborski said. “My hat is off to every male and female firefighter in this department for what they accomplish on a yearly basis.”